Flange oiler



F. ROSS ET AL May 1, 1951 FLANGE OILER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 19, 1948 v .1|. En (In May 1, i951 F. Ross ET A1. 2,550,865

FLANGE oILER 27 AT was May 1, 1951 F. Ross ET AL 2,550,855

FLANGE OILER Filed July 19, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ROSS K E. ROSS JR.

FRAN FRAN H.G.FIELD Patented May 1, 1951 JNE'E STATES FTENT QFFHCE FLAN GE OILER Frank Ross, Frank E. Ross, Jr., and Harley G. Field, St. Louis, Mo.

Application July 19, 1948, Serial N o. 39,414

4 Claims. 1

This invention appertains to lubricating devices and more particularly to novel oiler for the flanges of car wheels.

One of the primary objects ci this invention is to provide a i'iange oiler which will operate to deliver oil only as long as the car is in motion, thereby preventing the delivery of oil to the flanges when the car is standing still and thus preventing the wastage of oil and the danger or oil dripping on the treads of the wheel and other undesired places.

Another salient object of the invention is to provide means for automatically supplying a measured quantity of oil to the anges only of the wheels and thereby eiectively elimnate the setting of hand valves and the like commonly employed gravity cilers. Y

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel brush plate for engaging directly against the wearing side of the ilange of a car wheel with novel means for supplying oil to the plate when the car is in motion, the brush plate functioning to wipe oil on the flange and to keep the flange clean, any dirt collecting on the operative face ci the plate acts to retain oil and to facilitate the desired placing of an oil iilm on the ange.

A further important object of the invention is the provision ci novel means for mounting the brush. plate in position, whereby the brush plate will be eiiectively held against the flange irrespective of lateral or other movement of the Wheels, the mountingT also permitting the swinging of the brush plate and its associate partsvto an out oi the way position, when repairs or replacements to the wheels brake shoes become necessary.

A still further object of this .invention is to provide a ange lubricator which will operate successfully under all weather and dirt conditions and one which will be economical in use and which can be easily applied to existing car trucks Without change thereto.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, ar'A rangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

Figure l is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a railroad locomotive or car illustrating one truck thereof and showing our novel flange lubricat-or operatively connected therewith.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view through the oil reservoir and one pump, the section being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, the View aiso showing the novel means employed for operating the pump.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure looking in the direction or" the arrows.

Figure 4 is a transverse, sectional View through the reservoir and pumps, the section being taken substantially on the line i-ll of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view being taken on a still greater scale than Figures 2 and 3,

Figure 5 is a substantially horizontal,` sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the novel mounting for the brush plate.

Figure 6 is a detail, Vertical, sectional View taken on line of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the novel mounting of the brush plate.

Figure 'l is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken on the line '1 -i of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, Figures 5, 6 and 'l being on the same Scale as Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views the letter O generally indicates our novel ange oiler for a locomotive L or other piece of railroad rolling stock.

The locomotive L or other piece of railroad rolling stock will not be described in detail and it is sufficient to note that the same includes the usual truck iii, having journal boxes Il for the axle:` of the car wheels l2. The car wheels l2 are of the ordinary type and include the tread i3 and the flange I4.

The novel oiler includes an oil reservoir or tank l5 made from the desired material and of a size and shape best suited for the purpose intended and to contain a certain quantity of oil, As illustrated, the reservoir i5 includes a body portion I6 having a bottom wall il and side and end Walls I8. A removable cover i9 is provided. The cover can be held down by machine screws 2!! and a gasket 2i can be employed for prevent ing the escape of oil from the reservoir and the entrance of dirt into the reservoir. The bottom wall Il is preferably inclined downwardly toward one point to form a water collecting sump. A drain plug 22 can be provided at that point. The cover is provided with a lling cap 23, and iiltering screen 2li can be carried by the cover directly inward of the filling cap.

The reservoir forms a housing for a pair of pumps 25 and 25. One pump is utilized for the front Wheels I2 of the truck I5 and the other pump 25 is utilized for the rear pair of wheels I2 of the truck. ri'rhese pumps are identical in construction and operation and are operated synchronically by the movement of the sprung and unsprung parts of the truck I5. At this point, it is to be noted that the bottom Wall I'I of the reservoir l is provided with a transversely ex.- tending bearing boss 2l. This bearing boss receives a supporting pivot bolt 28, which is rigidly carried by a sprung part of the truck. A wear or bearing sleeve 29 can be placed around the pivot bolt 25. The pumps 25 and 26 are operatively connected to an unsprung part of the truck.

The pumps 25 and 2B will now be described in detail.

Each pump includes a barrel 35 carrying at its lower end a pump cylinder 3|. The cylinder is closed by a cylinder head 32 threaded on the lower end of the barrel. The cylinder head 32 is provided with an intake port 33 normally closed by a ball check valve 32. The upper end of the barrel 3G carries a packing nut 35 through which is slidably mounted for reciprocative motion the hollow pump plunger 35. The lower end of the hollow pump plunger carries a plunger head 31 having a packing ring for close engagement with the inner wall of the pump cylinder 3I. The plunger head 3l is provided with an axial passageway 3S, which is normally closed by a ball check valve 39. The pump plunger 35 is also provided with a stop collar d3 and an expansion spring 4I bears against this collar and against the packing nut 35. Hence the spring functions to normally urge the pump plunger to a lowered position. The extreme upper end of the pump plunger has threaded thereon a nipple 42 and this nipple forms a cage for retaining a spring press ball check valve, 53 in position against the upper end of the hollow plunger rod.

The plunger rods 35 of the pumps 25 and 25 are connected together by across head 44. The cross head 54 rockably mounted thereon a bearing collar 55, which forms a part of the operating mechanism for the pumps. This collar is connected to an operating lever 46. The lever 46 is of the telescoping type and thus includes a cylindrical main portion 4'! and a solid portion #la which is rigidly secured to the collar 45. The outer end of the tubular portion 4l of the lever 25 is pivotally connected by means of a pivot stud le to a bracket 50. The bracket 55 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the unsprung portion of the truck, such as the journal boxes II.

An adjustable fulcrum 5I is provided for the lever 46, so as to regulate the stroke of the pump plungers. The adjustable fulcrurn 5I includes a bracket plate 52 having pivot ears 53 formed on the opposite sides thereof. A yoke 55 straddles the bracket plate and is connected, by means of pivot pins 55 with the pivot ears 53. The central portion of the yoke is rigidly connected to the cylindrical main or tubular portion 41 of the lever. Rigidly fastened to the cover plate I9 is a stud 55. This stud extends through a longitudinally extending slot 51 formed in the bracket plate 52. The opposite ends of the bracket plate carry stop pins 53 for engaging against the stud and the upper end of the stud carries a lock nut 59 which can be threaded down tight against the bracket plate. Adjustment of thebracket plate on the stud bolt can be had by loosening the nut 59' and then adjusting the stop pins 58. Ob-

l viously, by moving the bracket back and forth the active stroke of the plungers for the pumps can be regulated.

From the description so far, it can be seen that when the car or locomotive L is in transit and motion occurs between the sprung and unsprung parts of the truck, that the lever l5 'will be actuated causing a reciprocatory movement of the pump plungers 35. Considering that the reservoir I5 is filled with oil, it can be seen that upon the up stroke of the plungers the balls 3e and i3 will be held upon their seats, but that the ball check valves 34 will be lifted up by the suction and oil will be taken into the pump cylinders. Upon downward movement of the pump plungers the ball check valves 3d will be forced down on their seats by pressure and the ball check valves 39 will be lifted ofi their seats by the incoming oil. When the pump plungers are filled with oil the ball check valve I3 will also be moved oiT of their seats by the pressure of the oil upon the down stroke of the plungers and this oil willv then be forced out of the pump plungers and through thenipples. The main function of the ball check valves 39 is to prevent the draining of oil out of the pump plungers and to aid in the elevation or forcing of the oil out of the upper ends of the plungers. The movement of the plungers is slight and in actual practice a small given quantity of oil will be forced out of the reservoir upon each movement of the plungers.

One of the main features of the invention is the provision of novel means for wiping the oil delivered from the plungers to the flanges I4 of the car wheels I2. As heretofore brought out the pump 25 is utilized for forcing the oil to the oil applicator for the front wheels I2 of the car, and the pump 25 is utilized for supplying oil to the oil applicator for the rear wheels, These oil applicators are indicated respectively by the numerals and 5I. Each of these oil applicators are identically the same in construction and it is to be noted that flexible hoses 52 and t3 lead respectively to oil applicators 55 and 5I. The hose 62 leads directly to its applicator, while the hose 53 is connected to a delivery pipe @il which extends along the truck back toward the oil applicator 6I and the pipe Gli is in turn connected by a flexible hose 55 to the applicator 5I.

Each applicator includes a hanger bracket 55 which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to a convenient part of the truck Ii). carries a pivot stud bolt 5l on which is rockably mounted, by means of suitable bearings 58 the suporting lever 69. This lever 59 extends toward and over the adjacent wheel. Slidably mounted in the outer end of the lever 59 is a supporting sleeve 15. As is clearly shown in Figure 5, this sleeve extends laterally of the lever toward the flange of the wheel. on one side of the lever 59 is a stop washer 'II and detachably secured to the sleeve on the opposite side of the lever is a similar stop washer l2. A relatively short spring E3 is coiled about the sleeve I5 and abuts against the stop washer 'E2 and the lever 59 and normally urges the sleeve toward the flange of the wheels. The purpose of this arrangement is to obtain flexible support for sleeve l) and yet retain a self-squaring force tending to hold sleeve 'l5 in a line perpendicular to side of lever 59. Slidably mounted in the sleeve 'I0 is an oil delivery tube lll. This tube has connected therewith by means of nip-ples and suitable couplings l5, the flexible hose. The hose S2 leading from the pump 25 is connected by the nipples This bracket Secured to the sleeve 'I0l and couplings to its oil applicator 60 and the hose 65 is connected by the nipples and couplings to its oil applicator 6l. The inner end of the oil supply tube 'i4 carries the brush plate l. This brusn plate is preferably formed from metal. As is also best shown in Figure the brush plate 'l is provided with an opening Tl and the tube 'i4 extends into this opening and is connected to the wall thereof. Hence oil delivered, to the tube will flow into this opening il and to the inner face of the brush plate. An expansion spring 18 is coiled about the tube 'i4 and bears against the outer face of the brush plate and the stop washer '12, consequently, the brush plate will normally be urged outwardly and into wiping engagement with the ange I4 of its car Wheel.

It can be seen that the brush plate 16 is mounted for movement so that the same can swing up and down and transversely of the lever 69. Thus the brush plate can follow the .various movements of the car wheel.

Much stress is laid on the point of brushing contact with the wearing face of the wheel flange and the plate 16. This contact is such that the oil is only supplied to the flange and the oil is wiped on the flange during the rotation of the wheel. As the supply of oil is governed by the stroke of the oil supply pump only a limited quantity of oil is delivered to a brush plate. Consequently, an excess of oil delivery to a brush plate is prevented and only suicient oil is supplied to the flange to lubricate the same. Consequently, the oil will not flow or drip onto the wheel tread or the rails of the track. Each brush plate functions to wipe and clean the car flange and any dirt collecting on the active face of a brush plate will act as a sponge to collect and hold the oil. As soon as the car or locomotive stops further delivery of oil is stopped, and consequently wastage is eliminated and oil will not drip down on the car wheels while the train is standing still.

Another important feature, is that the mounting of the brush plate is such that the same can be swung to a raised inoperative position (see dotted lines showing in Figure 1). This permits free access to be had to the brake shoes.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that we have provided an ecient and durable ange oiler, which is so constructed as to operate under all weather conditions.

While we have shown the lubricator on sprung and unsprung parts of the truck, it is to be understood that the same could be mounted on two sprung parts of the truck or in fact at any point Where relative motion is had between parts of the truck.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what we claim as new is:

U extending exteriorly of the reservoir, a lever fulcrum on said reservoir, a lever rockably mounted on the fulcrum, means rockably connecting the lever to the pump plunger, and means rockably connecting the outer end of the lever to the unsprung part of a car truck.

2. In a flange oiler for car Wheels, an oil reservoir, means rockably connecting the oil reservoir to a sprung part of a car truck, a pump in said reservoir including a cylinder, a pump plunger reciprocally mounted in the cylinder, said plunger extending exteriorly of the reservoir, a lever fulorum on said reservoir, a lever rockably mounted on the fulcrum, means rockably connecting the 1. In a ange oiler for car wheels, an oil reser- Voir, means rockably connecting the oil reservoir to a sprung part of a car truck, a pump in said reservoir including a cylinder, a pump plunger reciprocally mounted in the cylinder, said plunger lever to the pump plunger, and means rockably connecting the outer end of the lever to the unsprung part of a car truck, said lever including sliding sections.

3. In a ange oiler for car wheels, an oil reservoir, means rockably connecting the oil reservoir to a sprung part of a car truck, a pump in said reservoir including a cylinder, a pump plunger reciprocally mounted in the cylinder, said plunger extending exteriorly of the reservoir, a lever fulcrum on said reservoir, a lever rockably mounted on the fulcrum, means rockably connecting the lever to the pump plunger, means rockably connecting the outer end of the lever to the unsprung part of a car truck, said pump plunger being hollow and provided with ball check valves, an inlet valve for the lower end of the cylinder, and an outlet nipple carried by the outer end of the pump plunger.

4. In a flange oiler for car wheels, an oil reservoir, means rockably connecting the oil reservoir to a sprung part of a car truck, a pump in said reservoir including a cylinder, a pump plunger reciprocally mounted in the cylinder, said plunger extending exteriorly of the reservoir, a lever fulcrum on said reservoir, a lever rockably mounted on the fulcrum, means rockably connecting the lever to the pump plunger, and means rockably connecting the outer end of the lever to the unsprung part of the car truck, said fulcrum being mounted for movement toward and away from the connection of the lever with the pump plunger.

FRANK ROSS. FRANK E. ROSS, JR. H. G. FIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 17,126 Segrist Nov. 6, 1928 1,877,070 Siegrist Sept. 13, 1932 1,877,848 Gilliam Sept. 20, 1932 1,934,407 Corey Nov. 7, 1933 1,979,056 Sims Oct. 30, 1934 2,281,400 Welby Apr. 28, 1942 

